Ramblings on libraries and life upon the wicked stage

A real librarian

It’s time to update the ‘About’ page on this blog as a number of points have been rendered untrue over the last week. Specifically the following:

The Singing Librarian is not, technically speaking, a librarian. He has been working in a higher education library in Kent (UK) since Autumn 2000, but does not yet have a librarianship qualification and is therefore only a quasi-librarian. His job title is ‘Senior Library Assistant’.

And

The Singing Librarian is in the process of obtaining a librarianship qualification, but already has a BA (Hons) in English Language and Theatre Studies, as well as an MA in Literature.

One small thing has ensured that these statements are no longer true. On Monday I received confirmation that I have passed everything necessary to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma in Information and Library Studies. As this course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and I’m currently continuing my secondment, it appears that I have become a real librarian in the eyes of the profession as well as the eyes of the world.

There were no trumpets, fireworks or choirs (unless you count the Titanic rehearsal on the night I found out) to accompany this new stage of the Singing Librarian’s life, but it is quite significant. An accredited library qualification opens up a number of career possibilities within the information world, which are attractive largely because of the interesting nature of the roles rather than the money (anyone who thinks librarians are rolling in money clearly doesn’t know any librarians). Subject specialisation, cataloguing or secondary/further education librarianship all appeal. I don’t know where I’ll go next, but it is nice to know that I am finally a real librarian.